Fiji Sun Article: Makogai School Rebuilding (Sea Mercy) August 31, 2016

A Symbol of Hope for Nasau - This 4 month project was a labor of love and many friends and partnerships were formed as a result. Sea Mercy had never tackled a project of this magnitude before, yet we were blessed with the financial, equipment and talent support needed from our local and international relationships. Individually, none of this could have been accomplished, but working together, no matter the size or distance of the project, anything is possible.

Great job to all those involved with the school project and we look forward to continuing to develop our programs and services to the people of the South Pacific.

Sea Mercy

Makogai School Rebuilding is Finished!

After....

After 4 months, thousands of volunteer hours, and visits from over 20 Sea Mercy volunteer vessels, today (August 31, 2016) is the official "Hand Over" ceremony of the school to the people living on Makogai. From where the school started (nothing) to where it is today is a testimony to the people directing this rebuilding effort.

Before...

Our deepest appreciation to the Project Leaders, Ian & Wendy Shields (S/V Outsider) and the many volunteers and sailors who gave of their time, talents and hearts to make this rebuilding a reality.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Geoff Deutschmann (Captain of the Sea Mercy Landing Craft) for the hundreds of miles and hours he spent delivering the materials to Makogai.

To Tracey Collins (Operations) and her countless hours organizing the warehouse, volunteers, aid shipments and the purchasing and delivery logistics following Cyclone Winston.

And last, but not least, to the many sponsors and partners who without your assistance and support, this school would still just be a dream for the parents and children living on Makogai.

You are all Sea Mercy heroes and we are so grateful for all that you have done to help the people of Fiji.

Have a wonderful Hand Over Ceremony today and give our love to the people of Makogai that have become a part of the Sea Mercy family!

Sea Mercy 

Makogai School Rebuilding Project - Sea Mercy Fiji WITH THANKS

What started as a small list of volunteer names on a board hanging on a wall, quickly grew to take over the entire wall. Since February 2016, it's hard to comprehend how many people played an important part in the rebuilding of the School on Makogai. With Ian and Wendy at the helm, so many of us were blessed to have been able to participate. 

Whether it was a captain and crew who were anchored offshore, a volunteer that traveled across the Pacific Ocean to dedicate a few weeks of their lives, or a staff member in Fiji (thanks Tracey) who spent months organizing each vital shipment of supplies and aid to the island, each person played an important role in the rebuilding process.

Some names are missing, some have yet to arrive in order to add their names to it, but each one of us who had the pleasure to be a part of this great project are grateful and excited to see the students reclaim what was lost to Cyclone Winston. The official ceremony will be on August 31st. We can't all be there, but we will always be there in spirit.

Our thanks to everyone who played a role.

Sea Mercy

(final school building pictures withheld until after the ceremony)

Makogai School Buildings (#2 here) are almost finished!

Ian and Wendy and all the volunteers that have participated in this project the past 3 months are almost finished with the school rebuilding project on Makogai. Here is a wonderful look at the painted murals on building #2 that captures the beauty and culture of the island.

Thank you everyone for you incredible hearts and help. The official ribbon cutting will take place on August 31st! Come and visit if you can. 

Loving the new Mural on the Makogai School !!

As the school rebuilding project keeps rolling, the students and volunteers added a wonderful mural to the front of the school. Loving the flag on the sailboat... Although in a few months the project will be completed, its great to know that there will be a little memory left behind that future kids will ask about. 

Great job Ian & Wendy and all the Sea Mercy volunteers who have made such a huge difference the past few months.

Vinaka!

Blog Post From Sea Mercy Disaster Response Vessel S/V Fluenta

S/V Fluenta
Max, Elizabeth, Victoria, Jonathan and Benjamin

It is always amazing to see the hearts of sailors who are willing to change plans and course to help people in need. S/V Fluenta (Max, Elizabeth, Victoria, Jonathan and Benjamin) are one example of the heart and soul of Sea Mercy. 

Living life at sea (full-time), they are a testimony of a wonderful lifestyle and choice for their family. If "life at sea" is your dream, I encourage you to read their blog to get a taste of it. Thank you!

https://sv-fluenta.blogspot.ca/2016/06/makogai-and-yadua-lots-of-catching-up.html

Progress in Makogai: Another House Ready for Move-In This Week

Progress is being made in Makogai. This beach house will be home to two adults and six children. Best of all - they will be able to move in this week! WELL DONE TEAM!!!

Landing Craft "SEA MERCY" Is Launched and Gets Right to Work!

Cobra Boats and Marine Engineering launches the landing craft "SEA MERCY".

Two 250 HP engines.

Looking good  - time to get supplies loaded and head out to Makogai.

and they are off to Makogai.

Time to unload at Makogai.

  

 The quad and trailer (also designed and built by Cobra Boats) will take it from here. The combination of these two machines saves so much time and allows Sea Mercy to be much more efficient in their work. Thank you again to all of those who made this possible!!

The Sea Mercy Quad/Trailer Program Is a Huge Success! by Richard Hackett

As we see with any purchase decision, there were some doubts about certain aspects of the Sea Bridge program regarding value and needs. The purchase of the used Quad and trailer was one of them. After our first stop in Makogai and the School Rebuilding project there, we immediately saw the value.

The village and school sits 1/3 of a mile from the beach (1/2 kilometer) and with over 25 tons of lumber, poles, aluminum sheeting, concrete and paint coming, imagine having to carry each item by hand to the building location?

Every time the Landing Craft would bring a load of materials, the volunteers and villagers would smile and tell us over and over again, "thank you for the quad and trailer" (I know my back was happy for it).

We will be wrapping up the Landing Craft deliveries this week and will pull the quad and trailer back to Port Denarau for servicing and reassignment. Thank you Cobra boats for the specially designed trailer and the quad to pull it.

Progress on the Makogai School Project

Outsider in Makogai

Volunteers for the Makogai School Project  - June 5th

Ian and Wendy on "Outsider"  have been leading the efforts here on Makogai with a small fleet of Sea Mercy volunteer vessels and teams of international volunteers helping to rebuild the school. They have made much progress even before the landing craft arrived with additional supplies. Thank you Ian and Wendy for your awesome leadership and commitment!!

You can read a full description of the project and appreciate the scope of the work that needs to by done at seamercy.org/makogai. Here are pictures of progress so far.

The first temporary school set up after Winston.

The first one blew down so a second one was set up.
School must end at noon because the tents are too hot.

The bathrooms are on the left, the primary grades were in the
building in the center and the secondary grades were on the right.

The foundation is all that is left of the secondary grade building.
All the books and supplies were ruined.

A distant view of the school grounds.

Before we start rebuilding the school, we must get water to the site.

Off-loading the water tank - pretty sure this was OSHA approved.

Getting the tank installed and water to the school from the
village was a morale booster - now, if we can just find the off switch.

Ian working with Fili, the village head man, to install the
watermaker over the brackish well.

The longboat is the Fijian workhorse and the men and women
driving them are brave beyond belief! They helped us deliver some
of our First Response supplies.

Offloading the long boats....

While they are waiting for the landing craft to bring supplies, volunteers and children from the school repaint the bathrooms - the only building from the school to survive.

Before

Eager volunteers :)

After. The Bob Marley color scheme was not requested
but the bright colors were perfect for morale.

As the painting continued, more children arrive
from the village and then joined in.

Clearing the wood, glass, nails and destroyed books
from the building site.

One section cleared and ready for rebuilding.

Another section almost cleared with the help of a little friend :)

Cleaning cinder blocks for reuse.

Repairing and using what you have.

The winds of this Category 5 cyclone reached speeds of over 200 mph and Makogai was directly in the path of the storm. The devastation can be seen all over the island.

In the village, homes were destroyed.

The government fishery where they had a turtle
farm was also destroyed.

The power of +200 mph winds.....

The people were traumatized by the storm
 but the children are starting to recover from the event.

The start of something beautiful.